Jan 24, 2010

National Ferries conducts Muscat-Masirah exploratory run

ASK any tourist the most striking feature of Oman. He will certainly confuse between greenery and clean wide roads and suddenly tell you that it is the people’s hospitable nature that appealed them the most. But this journalist from Germany is a keen observer of society and culture, environment and people’s life and she has a different point to note.

Jan 20, 2010

Sardine fishing Dhawaaghi activities peak in Dhofar

AS it has been the tradition since time immemorial Taqah, Dhofar, fishermen arraigned four Dhawaaghi this year to fish sardines.
Dhawaaghi is the plural of dhaaghiyah and means co-operation between a large number of people for the purpose of fishing for sardines in commercial quantities.
The za’eem, leader, is traditionally responsible for organising the dhaaghiyah. A single dhaaghiyah today comprises two motor boats and four motor vehicles. There are two fishermen in one of the boats and three in the other, one of whom swims to the shore with the jareef, big net, rope. The catch is divided into fifty-four shares. Each boat receives one share, the vehicles receive three shares each, the rope tower and net operators receive two shares each and each member of the dhaaghiyah receives one share.
The Dhawaaghi season today involves fewer people than it did in the past. In the old days it provided a source of income for a large number of the local population, including the women. Most of them would purchase their needs from the merchants on credit, payable when the Dhawaaghi season ends.